PressClub Global · Article.

Press Release

Press Kit

Speech

Fact & Figures

+ Filter

Extremely athletic, extremely versatile: The new MINI John Cooper Works Countryman.

Tue Jan 17 23:55:00 CET 2017 Press Kit

The second generation of the MINI Countryman is the biggest and most versatile model in the entire range of the tradition-steeped British brand. And another superlative now applies to the power unit of the MINI.

The second generation of the MINI Countryman is the biggest and most
versatile model in the entire range of the tradition-steeped British
brand. And another superlative now applies to the power unit of the
MINI John Cooper Works Countryman. With an output of 170 kW/231 hp
(combined fuel consumption: 7.4 l - 6,9/100 km; combined CO2
emissions: 169 - 158 g/km), it is the most powerful engine ever to be
fitted in a MINI: in combination with the standard all-wheel drive
system ALL4 and a robust vehicle concept, it ensures that the latest
addition to the family of top John Cooper Works athletes takes the
MINI experience to a whole new level – in terms of both race track
feeling on the road and extreme driving fun over unsurfaced terrain.

The new MINI John Cooper Works Countryman sprints from zero to
100 km/h in 6.5 seconds with both the standard 6-speed manual
transmission and the optional 8-speed Steptronic sports
transmission. In doing so it is 0.8 or 0.7 seconds faster than the
MINI Cooper S Countryman ALL4. The superior performance qualities of
the new MINI John Cooper Works Countryman are likewise reflected in
its elasticity on interim sprints, cornering agility and
deceleration performance. These qualities are the product of an
overall package that has been compiled based on John Cooper Works
racing expertise, including not just the engine and all-wheel drive
system but also a sports suspension with 18-inch John Cooper Works
light alloy wheels and Brembo sports brake system, special body
features to optimise aerodynamic properties and cooling air intake,
and a model-specific cockpit with John Cooper Works sports seats.
The exceptional standing of the new
MINI John Cooper Works Countryman within the premium compact segment
is underscored by means of exclusive standard features including
MINI Driving Modes, LED headlamps, Comfort Access and the Radio MINI
Visual Boost.

The new MINI John Cooper Works Countryman: an overview of the
facts and figures.

– 4-cylinder turbo engine with 170 kW/231 hp and 350 Nm torque. –
Efficiency-optimised all-wheel drive system ALL4 as standard. – Sports
suspension with Brembo sports brake system and 18-inch light alloy
wheels. – Engine, suspension and aerodynamics harmonised based on
John Cooper Works racing expertise. – Sprint from zero to
100 km/h in 6.5 seconds, 0.8 seconds faster than the
MINI Cooper S Countryman ALL4, maximum speed: 234 km/h. –
John Cooper Works Aerodynamics Kit with especially large air inlets at
the front. – Model-specific interior with John Cooper Works sports
seats. – Exclusive standard trim include LED headlamps, MINI Driving
Modes and Comfort Access. – Five fully fledged seats, and a
significant increase in space, luggage compartment size and
versatility as compared to the predecessor model. – MINI Connected as
a personal mobility assistant for everyday use and when travelling.

More power, more space and more race track feeling on all
terrains.

The new MINI John Cooper Works Countryman is the successor to the
brand's first top athlete designed for the compact segment and fitted
as standard with the all-wheel drive system ALL4. The new car's
advancement over its predecessor is reflected not just in an output
that is increased by 10 kW/13 hp and the efficiency-optimised design
of the ALL4 system but also in enlarged external dimensions and a
considerable increase in space, versatility and functionality. With an
addition of some 17 centimetres in length and 3 centimetres in width
along with a wheelbase extension of 7.5 centimetres, space
availability on the five fully fledged seats is now significantly
optimised. The luggage compartment can be expanded as required from
450 litres to as much as 1 390 litres. This makes the new MINI
John Cooper Works Countryman a top athlete with all-round qualities
that provides extreme driving fun and exceptional versatility –
whether on the race track, away from asphalted roads, in everyday
traffic or over lengthier distances.

World premiere in Shanghai, market launch in spring 2017.

The new MINI John Cooper Works Countryman will be presented to the
public for the first time in April 2017 at the Shanghai Motor Show.
The market launch will get underway in spring 2017.

Developed from longstanding experience of race tracks and
rally trails.

In addition to state-of-the-art technology, the distinctive character
of the new MINI John Cooper Works Countryman is also derived from the
brand’s longstanding and successful motor racing tradition. It was 55
years ago that the classic Mini clinched its first victory – when the
Mini Cooper won the British Touring Car Championship. Since then the
name of legendary sports car designer John Cooper has stood for the
brand’s racing success and the extreme driving fun it offers on the road.

Exactly 50 years after the last of three outright wins by the
classic Mini at the Monte Carlo Rally, the new
MINI John Cooper Works Countryman now points the way to further
success in this discipline. The new edition of this all-rounder
provides the basis for the competition vehicle developed by MINI and
the X-raid Team for long-distance rallies. The MINI John Cooper Works
Rally is set to take on the challenges of the world's toughest
marathon contests, starting with the Dakar Rally in 2017. As such it
succeeds the MINI ALL4 Racing, which was developed based on the first
generation of the MINI Countryman and won the Dakar Rally four times
in succession.

Perfectly harmonised overall package for top performance.

The John Cooper Works brand has been integrated under the MINI
umbrella for ten years. This close connection dates back to the early
years of the classic Mini, whose sporting talent was discovered and
promoted by John Cooper. Today it impacts positively on the extreme
driving enjoyment offered by the MINI John Cooper Works Countryman.
The engine, transmission, all-wheel drive, suspension, aerodynamics
and cockpit design are not just geared towards top performance, they
are also precisely harmonised with the vehicle concept of the new
MINI Countryman. As a result, the latest John Cooper Works model is an
overall package for thrilling performance, assembled with racing expertise.

Engine: power delivery and sound with racing character.

The 2.0-litre 4-cylinder engine installed transversely at the front
of the new MINI John Cooper Works Countryman demonstrates performance
characteristics inspired by motor racing. It has a specific version of
MINI TwinPower Turbo Technology with a turbocharging system integrated
in the cast steel manifold, petrol direct injection, the fully
variable valve control system VALVETRONIC and variable camshaft
control (double VANOS). Made of highly temperature-resistant material,
the turbocharger generates a charge-air pressure which is now
increased to 2.2 bar. This creates the basis for highly energetic and
long-lasting power delivery. The engine puts its maximum torque of
350 Newton metres on stream at between 1450 and
4500 rpm. It delivers its peak output of 170 kW/231 hp
within an engine speed range of 5000 and 6000 rpm.

The particular features of the new engine developed for
John Cooper Works models include specific pistons, a large charge-air
cooler and an additional radiator. In addition there is a sports
exhaust system that not only supports the engine’s performance
characteristics but also gives them an impressive acoustic and visual
dimension. Reduced exhaust gas pressure promotes spontaneous power
delivery, while a controllable exhaust flap and the special geometry
of the tailpipe help generate the highly emotional sound that is
typical of John Cooper Works models. The sports exhaust system also
has tapered chrome covers for the dual tailpipes.

The standard 6-speed manual transmission is weight-optimised in
design as well as exhibiting a high level of internal efficiency and
shift comfort. A gear sensor enables active engine speed adaptation
for particularly dynamic shifting. Short shifts and the model-specific
gear lever knob facilitate precise gear selection. An 8-speed
Steptronic sports transmission is optionally available, operated by
means of a distinctively designed selector lever as well as shift
paddles at the steering wheel. It offers particularly short shift
times and a Launch Control function for traction-optimised sprint
manoeuvres from standing.

This also has a positive impact on efficiency. With the standard
manual transmission, the new MINI John Cooper Works Countryman has a
combined fuel consumption of 7.4 litres per 100 kilometres and a CO2
emissions level of 169 grams per kilometre. In conjunction with the
8-speed Steptronic sports transmission, these figures are reduced to
6.9 litres and 158 grams respectively (provisional EU test cycle
figures).

With ALL4 from the dirt road to the race track.

The performance capacity of the new MINI John Cooper Works Countryman
is not just very high, it is also extremely versatile in terms of the
potential range of uses. This is due to the ALL4 all-wheel drive
system, which not only optimises traction on unsurfaced terrain such
as dirt roads but also enhances ride stability in adverse weather
conditions and improves agility when taking bends dynamically on the
race track. The system’s electronic control unit is linked to the DSC
(Dynamic Stability Control), ensuring a consistently fast and precise
response at all times in distributing the drive torque between the
front and rear wheels.

Thanks to its compact and weight-optimised design, the current
version of the ALL4 all-wheel drive system offers a particularly
efficient form of variable power distribution. It consists of a power
take-off bevel gear on the front axle differential, a dual-section
propeller shaft and a rear axle differential with an
electrohydraulically controlled hang-on clutch. In order to reduce the
torque loss that occurs when drive power is transferred to the rear
axle, the new MINI John Cooper Works Countryman uses active DSC with
the brand’s characteristic front-wheel drive in normal situations on
the road. Only when necessary does the hang-on clutch relay drive
torque to the rear wheels within a fraction of a second.

Sports chassis for maximum agility when sprinting, on bends
and during braking manoeuvres.

The high-quality suspension technology of the new MINI John Cooper
Works Countryman offers the perfect basis for maximum performance and
enthralling handling properties. It is designed to harmonise with the
extremely high engine output of this versatile top athlete as well as
its long wheelbase, large track and low centre of gravity. A
single-joint spring strut axle at the front is combined with a
multilink rear axle in a model-specific version. What is more, the
standard sports suspension of the new MINI John Cooper Works Clubman
features a particularly tight set-up of the suspension and damping
systems. The speed-related Servotronic steering support – likewise a
standard feature – promotes precise handling on bends and comfortable
manoeuvring at low speeds.

The sports brake system was designed in collaboration with
specialist manufacturer Brembo and comprises 4-piston fixed-caliper
disc brakes on the front wheels, guaranteeing consistently high
deceleration rates even when subjected to intense use. The brake
calipers are finished in red and bear the John Cooper Works logo at
the front. The Dynamic Stability Control system also ensures optimum
traction on sprints, agility on bends and safe deceleration. Its
functions include Dynamic Traction Control (DTC), Electronic
Differential Lock Control (EDLC) – which acts as an electronic locking
function for the front axle differential – and Performance Control for
agile turning when taking bends at speed. The standard trim also
includes 18-inch John Cooper Works light alloy wheels in Black Thrill
Spoke. John Cooper Works light alloy wheels in the sizes 18 and
19 inches are optionally available.

The standard MINI Driving Modes enable a vehicle set-up that is
geared towards both the situation on the road and the driver’s
individual preferences. A rotary switch at the base of the gear or
selector lever is used to activate the settings SPORT, MID and GREEN.
This influences the characteristic curves of the accelerator pedal and
steering, the engine acoustics, the shift characteristics of the
8-speed Steptronic sports transmission, if the latter is fitted, and
the Dynamic Damper Control set-up. The characteristics of the
electronically controlled dampers are geared to a particularly dynamic
driving style in SPORT mode and support a more comfort-oriented style
in the other two modes. GREEN mode is designed for comfortable yet
efficiency-optimised driving. A supporting feature here is the
coasting function, which can be used in conjunction with the 8-speed
Steptronic sports transmission. In GREEN mode, the drivetrain is
decoupled at speeds of between 50 and 160 km/h as soon as the driver's
foot is removed from the accelerator pedal.

Exterior: a clear indication of versatile athleticism.

The exterior design of the new MINI John Cooper Works Countryman
expresses the model’s distinctive combination of extreme athleticism
and exceptional versatility. With a length of 4299
millimetres, a width of 1822 millimetres and a height of
1557 millimetres, it is unmistakably the biggest top
athlete in the family of John Cooper Works models. The typical
proportions of a dynamic all-round sports car are further emphasised
by model-specific features, in particular including the
John Cooper Works Aerodynamics Kit. Key elements of the car’s powerful
appearance include the large cooling inlets in the front apron, which
take up the space reserved for parking lights and fog lamps in the new
MINI Countryman. The standard roof rails and the model-specific roof
spoiler underscore both the height of the body and the fact that its
design is geared towards optimum aerodynamic balance.

The side turn indicator surrounds known as side scuttles bear a
red accentuation line and the John Cooper Works logo, as does the
hexagon radiator grille with characteristic honeycomb pattern; the
logo also appears on the tailgate. There are four non-metallic and six
metallic variants to choose from for the body finish of the new MINI
John Cooper Works Countryman. Here, Rebel Green is an option reserved
exclusively for John Cooper Works models as is the contrasting paint
finish for the roof and exterior mirror caps in Chili Red.

Interior: more space for racing passion.

Inside the new MINI John Cooper Works Countryman, the versatile
performance qualities can be experienced on five fully fledged seats
and in a characteristic sports car atmosphere. In addition to
John Cooper Works sports seats with integrated headrests, features
such as the John Cooper Works sports steering wheel with multifunction
buttons, the John Cooper Works gear or selector lever and the roof
liner in anthracite all contribute to the car’s intense feeling of
racing flair.

A distinctive cockpit design is combined with optimised space
and a high degree of versatility. Head, shoulder and leg room are
significantly more generous than in the predecessor model, both at the
front and the rear. The rear seats canbe shifted
longitudinally by up to 13 centimetres in a 60 : 40 split, while
additional versatility is provided by backrest elements that are
tilt-adjustable and foldable in a
40:20:40
split. One unique option for pit stops in distinctive MINI style is
the Picnic Bench, a flexible surface that folds out of the luggage
compartment and provides seating for two people. Another optional
fitting is an electric tailgate control that allows touchless opening
and closing in conjunction with the standard Comfort Access.

Exceptional athlete with exclusive fittings.

The exceptional standing of the new MINI John Cooper Works Countryman
both in the premium compact segment and the brand’s model program is
underscored by its exclusive equipment items. The standard LED
headlamps optimise visibility when driving in the dark as well as
giving the appearance of the car’s front section a striking contour.
The daytime driving light is generated by a band of light running
entirely around each headlamp, likewise using LED technology. Standard
features also include cruise control with brake function and the Radio
MINI Visual Boost including USB socket and operation via MINI
Controller on the centre console, and there is a 6.5-inch screen in
the central instrument that displays a start motif specific to John
Cooper Works when the driver gets in the car.

The driver assistance systems developed for the current model
generation enhance comfort and safety in the new MINI John
Cooper Works Countryman, too. The standard collision warning with city
braking function can be extended to include the Driving Assistant
system with camera-based active cruise control, pedestrian warning
with initial brake function, high beam assistant and road sign
detection. Other features to choose from include Park Distance Control
with sensors at the front, rear view camera and Parking Assistant. In
addition to information on road speed, speed limits and overtaking
bans detected, current navigation directions and Check Control
messages, feedback from the driver assistance systems and lists of
telephone contacts and entertainment programs, it is also possible to
display the currently selected gear and a multi-coloured engine speed
scale on the special John Cooper Works Head-Up Display.

The program of optional equipment items for the new MINI
Countryman is also available for the extremely sporty model version.
These include a panorama glass roof, 2-zone automatic air
conditioning, seat heating for driver and front passenger, windscreen
heating, electrically heatable and folding exterior mirrors and an
alarm system with a red LED status indicator in the fin antenna.

Other options include the Harman Kardon hi-fi system,
the MINI navigation system and the MINI navigation system
Professional. The features of the Wired package including MINI
navigation system Professional comprise the Touch Controller on the
centre console and an 8.8-inch colour screen in the central
instrument; the latter is a touchscreen, allowing functions to be
selected and adjusted at the tip of the finger. Also included in the
Wired package is MINI Find Mate, one of the latest digital services to
be added to MINI Connected. MINI Find Mate consists of so-called tags
with a wireless tracking function that can be attached to commonly
used objects and travel items, enabling them to be conveniently
located via MINI Connected. If the tag is located outside the wireless
range, the most recently registered position is displayed on the
on-board computer and on the driver’s smartphone. As soon as the
smartphone or vehicle moves back into the tag's wireless range, the
tag can be activated and acoustically located.

In conjunction with the Wired package it is also possible to use the
MINI Country Timer, which registers all travel over sloping, uneven,
unsurfaced or snow-covered roads and tracks. The duration and
intensity of driving on demanding terrain is displayed in typical MINI
style on the central instrument screen.

MINI Connected, the digital personal mobility assistant.

The new MINI John Cooper Works Countryman also demonstrates
fascinating performance and great versatility in the area of
connectivity. Going beyond the familiar functions of an in-car
infotainment program, MINI Connected acts as a personal mobility
assistant in the top athlete of the model range, too Based on a
flexible platform, the Open Mobility Cloud, MINI Connected integrates
the vehicle seamlessly into the MINI driver’s digital life via
touchpoints such as the Apple iPhone and Apple Watch.

Thanks to the integral concept of MINI Connected, mobility
doesn’t start in the vehicle. MINI Connected informs the driver of the
optimum departure time based on calendar entries and current traffic
data. Address data and appointments saved by the driver previously on
a smartphone via MINI Connected are automatically transferred to the
car and do not have to be entered in the navigation system again.
MINI Connected can also save regularly visited places as favourite
destinations, and it detects frequently covered routes such as the
daily run between home and work so as to be able to inform the driver
in the event of unexpected traffic delays.

For further details on official fuel consumption figures,
official specific CO2 emissions and power consumption of new
cars, please refer to the "Manual on fuel consumption,
CO2 emissions and power consumption of new cars",
available at all sales outlets, from Deutsche Automobil
Treuhand GmbH (DAT), Hellmuth-Hirth-Str. 1, 73760
Ostfildern-Scharnhausen and at
http://www.dat.de/angebote/verlagsprodukte/leitfaden-kraftstoffverbrauch.html.
Manual CO2 (PDF - 2.7 MB)

Article Media Material.

BMW Group Streaming.

INTERNATIONAL MOTOR SHOW 2017.

CO2 emission information.

Fuel consumption figures based on the EU test cycle, may vary depending on the tyre format specified.

Further information on official fuel consumption figures, specific CO2 emission values and the electric power consumption of new passenger cars is included in the guideline "Guideline for fuel consumption, CO2 emissions and electric power consumption of new passenger cars", which can be obtained from all dealerships, from Deutsche Automobil Treuhand GmbH (DAT), Hellmuth-Hirth-Str. 1, 73760 Ostfildern-Scharnhausen and at http://www.dat.de.

Further News for: John Cooper Works · MINI John Cooper Works Countryman · MINI Countryman

Related Video Content.

Fuel consumption figures based on the EU test cycle, may vary depending on the tyre format specified.

Further information on official fuel consumption figures, specific CO2 emission values and the electric power consumption of new passenger cars is included in the guideline "Guideline for fuel consumption, CO2 emissions and electric power consumption of new passenger cars", which can be obtained from all dealerships, from Deutsche Automobil Treuhand GmbH (DAT), Hellmuth-Hirth-Str. 1, 73760 Ostfildern-Scharnhausen and at http://www.dat.de.